President Museveni meets families of victims of Bijambiya gangs

President Yoweri Museveni has condoled with the families who lost their loved ones to the so-called bijambiya (panga/machete) gangs that have been terrorising residents of Masaka and Lwengo districts in Greater Masaka region.

 

“I invited you here to condole with you. We shall get these criminals. Some suspects have been arrested because they left all sorts of clues that we are following,” the President said.

 

He made a contribution of sh10m to each of the 25 families that have been affected by the latest attacks.

 

Machete-wielding criminals, also known as bijambiya, have been terrorizing villages, killing people with impunity in Masaka and Lwengo districts. Some of the victims are preganant and breastfeeding mothers while others had small children left in their care.

 

Museveni responded to several issues raised by Mary Gorreth Nkwanzi on behalf of the victims, including curfew, which they said gives an opportunity to the wrong elements to attack families in their homes.

 

Other issues underlined include;

 

- Closure of education institutions, which they claim has caused youth to resort to using drugs and drink alcohol

 

- Lack of electricity that gives a chance to bad people to hide under the cover of darkness

 

- Youth unemployment that has made them susceptible to criminal acts

 

- Closure of churches and mosques which had a great impact in counseling, guiding the youth

 

“We put curfew to stop illness (COVID-19), but we can't stop people from defending themselves,' responded the President.

 

'Many people died, including Bishop Kaggwa, Ms. Mubanda, Ms. Ssentongo etc. We have lost about 3,000 people [to the coronavirus] although other countries have lost more.'

 

Museveni agreed that the lack of electricity in the rural areas is key in commission of crime and said while the rural electrification is in the process, it will take some time.

 

He urged churches and mosques to use radios and televisions to preach to the people as one of the ways to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic. “If we open up before people get vaccinated, we shall have more issues.'

 

On her part, Nkwanzi commended the President and the NRM government for saving the lives of Ugandans from the deadly coronavirus pandemic.

 

She also thanked Museveni for the improved road network in Greater Masaka, including the Masaka-Bukomansimbi, Ssembabule-Mpigi, Masaka-Bukakata, Yellow Knife in Masaka City and the current construction of Nyendo, Kijabwemi in Masaka City.

 

She went on to that the Government for the many government-aided primary and secondary schools and for paying teachers during lockdown.

 

Former Lwengo district chairman George Mutabazi, who also briefed the President about the families that were affected, mobilized the victims.